Posted by Jeanne on June 30, 2009
Dog owners love to think of their dogs as children. “That’s my baby,” they’ll say when referring to their dogs. They’ll refer to themselves as “Mommy” or “Daddy” when talking to their dogs as well. And, of course, they buy their dogs toys
to play with. Choosing the right dog toys can be tricky. People like to get cute, squeaky toys for their dogs or give them stuffed animals to chew on and carry around (the stuffed toy becomes the dog’s “baby” quite often – “Get your baby, checkers! Checkers, where’s your baby?”) because they think it’s “adorable.” Dog toys don’t need to be “cute.” They need to be practical, fun for the dog, durable, and safe.
Avoid Non-Toy “Toys”
For as lovable, loyal, friendly, and playful as they are, dogs are not the brightest creatures. They are naturally attracted to things that can cause them the most harm. It’s important to start early with your dog, providing save toys to chew and play with while teaching the animal to avoid household items it may wish to use as toys. Dogs love to chew on pantyhose, for example, but these could easily be partially ingested, choking the dog. Some dogs will chew on power cords, risking a harmful (or fatal) electric shock. Teach your dog early on what things are for chewing and playing and what things are off limits.
The Best, Safest Dog Toys
The size of a toy is an important consideration. Kongs, balls, and other typical toys must be small enough that the dog can chew them and carry them, but not so small that they can become lodged in the dog’s mouth or throat.
Durability is a factor, especially for a dog that loves to chew. A toy that will break apart easily can become a hazard as the small, sharp parts can be swallowed, caught in the throat, or cut the mouth and gums. Again, a hard rubber Kong (easily one of the best dog toys ever conceived) is an excellent choice.
Softer toys, like the popular “squeak” toys made of thin plastic and full of air are good for dogs that are a bit gentler. They’re unlikely to chew through such items and are usually attracted by the squeaking sound.
Tennis balls are great for some dogs, but poor choices for others. This is a question of size ratios. If the dog is too small to fit a tennis ball all the way in its mouth, then it can be an excellent toy that the dog will love but costs very little. If the ball can fit all the way in the dog’s maw, however, it becomes a choking hazard.
Posted by Jeanne on January 27, 2009
Some people love to make their dogs as cute as can be. For these folks there are dog clothes. Cute sweaters, doggie tee shirts, dog booties, stylish bandanas, and precocious little hats are among the items people will purchase to adorn their dogs with style. Dressing a dog is more about the owner than the animal, but as long as the clothing isn’t restrictive or overly cumbersome, most dogs don’t mind getting dressed up now and then for a night (or day) on the town and some breeds, especially those that crave attention, quite enjoy it.
The advent of the internet has taken the concept of dressing our dogs to new levels as websites offering all manner of “designer” dog clothing have popped up everywhere. With names like Glamour Dog, Designer Dog Wear, and Paw Printz Boutique (dot com, of course), these sites offer the tops in canine fashion for proud owners to place on their pups.
Years ago it was not uncommon to see a dog in a knit sweater or some other cute clothing article, but today there are nearly as many clothing choices for dogs as there are for people. There are dresses and slacks, raincoats, eyewear, headwear, footwear, and every imaginable item. There is doggie casual wear, for hanging around on the beach, doggie formal wear for those special black tie occasions and even doggie wedding gowns and tuxedos for the wedding of a doggie’s dreams!
In many cases the doggie designer clothing comes complete with a doggie designer price tag. Dog dresses at Glamour Dog dot com, for example, are listed with prices that run from $40 (for a to die for Mary Jane dress) to $86 (Pretty Pink Formal Dress). Some of these dog clothes cost more than a lot of people spend to dress themselves. But, the sites stay in business. Someone is buying this stuff. Of course, you can purchase beautiful dog clothes at a fraction of the price! Sometimes you can get five dog outfits for the same price as you would pay for one “designer” dog outfit! Your dog won’t know or care!
Some personal favorites include the doggie trench coat ($70), the various college football jerseys ($25), and the 100% cotton doggie bathrobe – perfect for the pooch who wants to emulate Hugh Heffner.
The recent trend in excessive doggie clothing is undoubtedly spurred by the popularity of celebrity dogs like Paris Hilton’s infamous Tinkerbell and Anna Nicole Smith’s Prozac-popping puppy, Sugar Pie. Both pooches are rarely seen in public without some form of attire and the PR pooches are having an influence.
So, if you’re in the market for dog clothes that will turn heads and get your pooch noticed, designer doggie duds may be just what the fashion critic ordered. Just be sure not to combine designer labels or adorn your dog in designs that clash. After all, what could be more gauche?
If you are in the market for cute dog clothes that won’t break the bank, take a look at Amazon.com.
